Fluid transmission and clutch means



Aug. 27, 1946. J. L. LANDRUM FLUID TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH MEANS Filed June 19, 1945 nl. w l////////////// wm. .....HIHNI {WN I I I Aug. 27, 1946. J. l.. LANDRUM VFLUID TRANSMISSION 'AND CLUTCH 'MEANS 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19 Aug. 27, 1946. 4.1. L. LANDRUM I FLUID 'I RANSMSSION AND CLUTCH MEANS Filed June 19, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f mw @|1111 A Patented Aug. 27, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEIcE FLUID TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH MEANS Joel L. Landrum, Clovis, N. Mex. i

Application June 19, 1945,.Serial No. 600,394 claims. (ci. 19assi This invention relates to speed changing fluid power transmission and clutch devices and has for one of its objects to improve generally upon such devices.

More specifically, another object is to produce a device of its kind of simple yet practical and durable construction, which is easy to manufacture, easy to control and operate, durable and long lasting, and operable without failures common to many devices of this character heretofore produced and in present-day use.

Other objects and advantages to be attained will hereinafter more fully appear in the following description.

A practical but non-limiting exempliflcation of the invention isy illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the device;

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on or about the line 2-2 of Figure 1; p

Figure 3 is a section taken on or about the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on or about the line 4'-4 of Figure 1; Y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating correlation of certain iiuid passage and port arrangements at a time Vduring the operatlon of the device;

Figure 6 is a face view of one of the abutment cylinders of the device; and Y Figure '1 is a fragmentary view, more or less schematic in character, of a part of the controlling and shifting provision of the device. n

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral I designates a drive shaft and the numeral 2 a driven shaft.

Splined or otherwise secured on the drive shaft I, so as to rotate therewith, is a hollow cylinder 3 which is closed throughout the entire extent thereof. An outside cylindrical shell 4 is placed so'as to rotate concentrically about said inner shell 3, said outer shell being open at its opposite ends and said opposite open ends being provided with cylinder heads 5 and 6 which are respectively secured to the outer shell 4 by bolts 1.

The numeral 8 designates a separate end housing which is bolted to the cylinder head 5 by the same bolts 1 which secure the cylinder head to the adjacent end of the cylindrical shell 4.

A plain open-ended cylinder 9 is placed concentrically midway between the inner cylinder 3 and the outer shell 4, said cylinder 9 beingsomewhat longer than the inner cylinder 3 and outer shell 4 and its opposite end portions being fitted rotatably in annular grooves S'formed in the innerface portions of said cylinder heads 5 and 6 concentrically with the axis of the driven shaft I. The fitting of the endV portions of the cylinder 9 in said annular grooves 9 is made relatively tight so as to permit rotation of the cylinder 9 in said grooves 9', yet the fitting isV substantially leak-tight.

YA plurality of partition and abutment cylinders I0 (four in number,ras shown) are provided `and arranged and adapted to rotate and roll between the inner cylinder 3 and outer shell 4, in a manner and for a purpose to be presently more fully described, said cylinders I0 being located to work in longitudinal openings I0 provided therefor in said intermediate cylinder 9.

Said partition or abutment cylinders I0 are made hollow as is the major inner cylinder 3, primarily for the purpose of lightening the structure without detracting from the strength thereof, and said cylinders I0, like the cylinder 3, are closed entirely throughout the extent thereof.

- Formed on the inner face of the cylindricalwall of the outer shell 4 is a series of ribs IIV extending lengthwise thereof and disposed radially with respect to the axis of the driven shaft I. On the circumferential face of the inner cylinder 3 is formed a series of radial ribs II which project radially with respect to they axis of the driven shaft I, and both the ribs I I and I l' are of similar cross sectional form, that is to say, theyA are tapered slightly towards their `free edges and said free vedge portions are rounded substantially semicircular in cross section. In the operation of the device, as will be later more fully described, said ribs II and II alternately and sequentially enter Vand cooperate with longitudinally grooved portions III formed in one side of each of said partition or abutment cylinders I0. In operation of the device, the respective cylinders 3 and I0 and the outer shell 4'are` rotated cooperatively in A practical means for portions of said cylinder heads 5 and 6, respectively. A Y

Each of said partition or abutment cylinders I Il has pinioncdiscs I3 attached to its vopposite ends, said discs I3 havingcentral polygonal sockets which are fitted ongcounterpart vpolygonal ,members I3 -so that the discs I3 rotate with the cylinders I6, and said pinion discs I3Jbeing held j `to the'cylinder head 5.

j in place on the cylinders I because said discs i3 are located in the spaces between the ends l of the cylinders I and the adjacent inner face l portions of the cylinder heads 5 and 5, the outer faces of said discs I3 being/in slidable abutting contact with the adjacent face portions of said l cylinder heads.

Cil

VThe respective pinion discs I3 are in substan- 1 tially constant ;mesh with either the teeth of the gear discs i2 on the innerV cylinder 3 lor with l internal teeth provided on an outer vgear ring or annulus i4 which is interposed between the end portions of the outer cylindrical `shell and the respective cylinder heads 5 and 5, the pair of gear rings Il! being held in place Yby 4the aforesaid bolts and with a leak-tight fitting .between and the companion cylinder heads 5 and 5.

By the foregoing provision and arrangement, upon rotation of Athe inner `cylinder 3 rotation is imparted to the pinion :discs I3 whichrturn `the attached-cylindersr I9, and saidgpinion discs i3 are thereby caused Vto .,traVeLaround the inner toothed gperipheries of the v'gear rings Ili onV said said outer shell d, that is to say, when the device the adjacent end portions of said outer shell@ *Y is idling as will be presently more fully described.

y rIn this connection, it is noted that in the travel of the cylinders I5 in` their orbit between thev outer shell l and the inner cylinder 3 theV cir-` cumferential .faces of said cylinders i0 vare in .contact with the opposed inner face ofthe outer shell i and circumference ofthe inner cylinder 3, the surface -contact between the parts being with rolling contact effect.

The ratio of the Ygear elements I2, I3 and IQ p is such that the operation of the parts is timed v definitely for the cooperative entrance of the respective longitudinal ribs VII and -II on the elements 3 and il for effecting Ythe pocketing and i holding of `a non-compressible fluid to prevent relative rotation of the outer shell 4 which is carried by the driven shaft.. and the Iinnercylinder which is carried by the drivingY shaft when the device islsetfor clutching actionandtransdiameters of the gear elements I2, I3 and i4 are therefore correspondingly Vproportioned in diameter. in the illustration, four of the cylinders Hl are provided but in Vother adaptations of the invention` there may be provided a 'greater Vor lesserv number of said cylinders Ii. In the illustration, there are provided five of the ribs 'II.l

on vthe outer shell land three of the ribs II are provided on the inner cylinder 3. Like the cylinders I5, the number of theV ribs II and VI I may be varied in different adaptations Aof lthe *n invention. l

'Mounted on the outer vface of the cylinder head '5 and enclosed within the adjacent end housing ori-.casing is'a'valve ring I5. This valve ring l5 is in the form of a at annular plate of V{substantial width throughout the extent thereof and Said vvalve-ring I5 4is provided with two annular series of ports I5', there being in the illustration twenty of such ports in each of the two annular series and the respective ports being in radial pairs with respect to the axis of the driving shaft I. Two Y corresponding annular series of ports l5 are provided in the adjacent cylinder head 5 (see Figures 2 and 5). The two series of ports I5 in the valve ring i5 are moved into and out of registration with the respective ports I5 in the cylinder head 5 by as'light rotative movement of said valve ring i5. For holding the valve ring I5 frictionally in its rotative -position the same is provided with an annular ser-ies lof -segmental arcuate slots I'I through which screw studsr I'I are inserted and tted in Yscrew threaded apertures provided therefor in the cylinder heady.

,its interior periphery with a series of rack teeth I8'. Said rack teeth I3 are engaged by peripheralteeth on disc or sector lelements I8 which are mo-unted rotatably on supporting studs 25 whose inner .end portions are screw threaded and inserted in lcorrespondingly threaded apertures provided therefor in the cylinder head-5 .at points diametrically opposite vthe axis of @the vdriving shaft I. The disc or sector elements Vare provided with outwardly projected hub gfportions :25' having radial arms I 9, the outer end portions rof which arms are weighted, as at IS.

Located within the housing or leasing Siandsupported rigidly on the hub .portiongS of said housing is a pair of bent guide tubes 2| which :support longitudinally movable ltherein-a .pairof flexible shafts 22. VThe free .end Vportions of said tubes 2I terminate adjacent Ythe respectiveiarms I5 of said disc or sector elements eI'Band the adjacent end portions of said flexible rods '22 are pivotally attached to the respective iarmsig, as at 22. f f

A vpair of parallel operator stems'l23 are 4provided to slide longitudinally in the .hub portionk 8 of said end housing or casing 8 :of the device, the inner end portions of Asaid operator stems 23 being slidable in thev adjacent `end portions `of said guide tubes 2l and 'have the ends of the respective flexible rods 2-2 Iwelded lor otherwise rigidlyV attached thereto.Y The :operator rods 23 slide through stuffing boxes or packing glands 24 provided therefor in the outer rend y.portion of the hub portion of the housing or casing 8 and the outer end portions of said operator rods23 are rigidly vattached to the inner Yend .portion of a shifter element 2-5 which is fitted longitudinally slidable on the key grooved portion 2'A ofthe driven shaft 2, which key grooved lportion 2 yis provided on the shaft 2 for the attachment-of .the hub portion of the housing or casing tothe shaft and said key grooved portion being'extended a substantial distan-ce beyond theend -of the hub portion ofthe housing lor casing 8. Y

vrIn some adaptations of the invention, nas illustrated Vin Figure l,l the 'shifting of the shifter element 25 maybe accomplished manually. As Y shown,fthe means for thisaccomplishment includes Aa collar 25" --which is Asleeved freely .rotate able `on the shifter element 25 and said collar 25 has a pivotal connection 'i'with a yoke portion 21 .of a hand lever l28'fwhich is pivotal-ly mounted; as at 29, on a suitable stationary support 30. By` this particular provision, actuation of the'lever 28 in one direction imparts a longitudinal movement of the iiexible rods 22 inwardly and accordingly moves the arms I9 of the disc or sector elements I8 in the direction to correspondingly rotate the valve ring I5 in the direction to open the ports i 5 thereof into communication with the ports I5 in the cylinder head 5, at which time the outer shell 4 of thedevice is stationary or the device is idling, that is tosay, if the outer shell 4 is rotating no rotative movement is imparted to the inner cylinder 3 and its attached driven shaft I.

Movement of the operating lever 28 in the opposite direction imparts a partial rotation of the valve ring I5 in the direction opposite to that in which i-t has just been operated, that is to say, in the direction to close the ports I6 in the cylinder head 45. By the provision for the manual operation of the valve ring I5, just 'above described, the valve ring remains in its operated position until reversely operated.

An example of a mechanical provision for conltrolling and operating the valve ring I5 is illustrated in Figure 7. In this illustration, the mechanism connecting directly with the valve ring itself and extending through the hub portion 8 of the housing or casing 8 and including the snif-ter element is substantially the same as that illustrated in Figure 1. In place of the lever 28, however, there is provided a yoke element 3l having rollers 32 at the ends of the legs thereof which engage in the annular groove of the-element 25. This yoke element 3I is carried on a reciprocatory rod 33, on which rod a central hub portion 34 of the yoke element 3| is adjustably secured by a set screw 35.

One end portion of the rod 33 slides through an aperture provided therefor in a stationary supporting element which is located in proximity to the hub portion 8' of the housing or casing 8. The opposite end of ythe rod 33 is attached to a piston 38 which is slidable longitudinally within a cylinder 38, which latter is supported by a stationary support 39 which is mounted in opposed relation to said support 30. The piston 38 is urged toward one end of the cylinder 38 by a spring 4D which is coiled about the rod 33 and interposed between the opposite end of the cylinder and said piston. A bleeder aperture 4I is provided in the cylinder head against which the spring 4l] abuts. At the opposite end of the cylinder 38 an air supply pipe 42 is attached communicably, said pipe leading from a source of air under pressure (not shown). Obviously, instead of using compressed air-for operating the piston 38 the same may be operated under other suitable fluid pressure. So, too, a suitable controlling valve or valves may be provided in vsaid pipe 42, and the same being conventional and of any approved type it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate the same in detail herein.

in this modification for mechanical actuation of the valve ring I5, the-idling position of the valve ring .I5 is maintained under the normal iniiuence ofthe spring element 46 against the piston 38v in the cylinder 38. That is to say, normally, the flexible rods 22 areretracted in the guide tubes 2| under the iniiuence of the spring 43. Also, it is here noted that as to the manually operable lever 2B, when said lever 28 is in the position shown in Figure 1 the valve ring I5 is in idling position.

For operation of the device, the several fluid chambers 36 within theeylindrical housing 4 of 6 the device are iilled with a non-compressible luid and the chamber 3'I within the end housing or casing 8, constituting a reserve supplyy chamber, is filled substantially to near the top theremost ports I5' in said valve ring I5 so that no appreciable amount of air, if any, is admitted into the chambers 36 within the cylindrical shell 4 of the device.

With the chambers 36 and 31 thus filled and with the valve ports I5 open to full communication with the ports I6 in the cylinder head 5, the driven shaft 2 and its attached inner cylinder 3 are rotatable freely Without any eifect on the outer cylindrical shell 4 and driving shaft I. However, if the valve ring I5 is turned so as to close or partially close the ports I6 in the cylinder head 5 the fluid is confined in the respective chambers 36 and being so confined with the cylinders I0 in certain positions relative to the ribs I on the outer shell 4 and those I I on the inner cylinder 3, and the rounded edge portions of said ribs II and II in wiping contact with the inner and outer faces of the intermediate sleeve 9, there is a substantial clutching effect caused whereby the rotation of the inner shell 3 causes a positive rotation of the outer cylinder 4 in the same direction.

To start operation of the transmission device in one way it is only necessary to rst start r0- tation of the driving shaft I or else to l'irst either manually operate the shifter element 25 by means y substantially as shown in Figure 1 or through the mechanical operating means in Figure '7,in which latter case compressed air or other iiuid pressure is admitted to the cylinder 38 so as to force the piston 38 forwardly and in turn move the shifter element 25 through the intermediary of the yoke element 3I carried on the rod-33. This actuation of the manual or mechanical controlling and operating means closes or partially closes the ports in the cylinder head 5 immediately to the degree desired and as soon as the inner cylinder 3 begins to rotate and turn with the shaft I, which shaft has thereafter been started in rotation, the operation may continue without the use of either the manually or mechanically controlled means because of the provision of the weighted arms on the discs or sector elements 26 which have the gear toothed connection with the ratchet teeth on the ring valve I5 and thus keep the valve ring in port-closing position.'

Another way of starting operating of thetransmission device is to iirst Vstart rotation of the drive shaft I. Then, if there is not suiiieient uid resistance between the inner cylinder 3 and outer shell 4 to cause rotation of the outer shell at sufficient speed, if any, to cause operation of the centrifugal controlling element for a proper closing of the ports in the head `wall 5, the ports may Abe closed or partially closed by manipulation of the aforesaid manually or mechanically operable elements. Y Y

It is here noted that, in some cases, the operation of the device of the present invention may be by utilization of the herein described driven shaft 2 as the driving shaft instead of the shaft I as described, and this without any appreciable change in construction and arrangement of parts, ifany.

andenes say, the outer cylindrical shell .ll is rotatable free.-

, I, ly-laboutthe. inner cylinden and, ofV course, there i, is no driving ofthe shaft Zbyztheshaft yI .or the shaft l by the shaft 2 as the'case may be.` However,byclosing the ports 115 fully or nearly so, y

5 the clutchngeifect ofv the4 connednon-compres.- sible fluid in the chambers 36 causes. rotation of the inner cylinder 3 or the outer shell, the one c by and with the other,'so that the shaftvr 2' is driven by the shaft l, or vice versa. Thus, if the l ports I6 are fully closed there is no appreciable l slippage or lost motion, if any, and the shaft 2 rotates at the samey speed as the shaft I, but if the ports are not closed tightly there is some i bleeding ofthe fluid confined in the Ychambers 36 to an appreciable degree through the ports I6 into the fluid reserve supply chamber 3l so that the clutching effect. on the` inner cylinder 3 or the outer shell 4 is not definitely positive,

lengt-hin. the cylindricalwall thereof, a plurality ofjannularly spacedpartition and abutment cylinders. disposed with rotative tting in the re-V spective vlongitudinal 'openings of said intermediate Ycylinder' and being each respectively of a diameter-soY 'as to roll in circumferential contact with the. cylindrical walls of said main body shell and said' inner cylinder, said partition and abutment.V cylinders beingneach of a length substan- 10 tially `the same asV said inner cylinder and the interior of said main body shell, disc gears secured coaxially on the opposite. ends of said partition and abutment cylinders each in mesh with one of the end disc gears of said inner cylinder and with' one of said ring gears of said main body shell,v whereby', Without fluid resistance within said main body shell, rotation of said main body shell causes said partition and abutment or, in other words, there may be at times some l displacement of the confinedl fluid resulting in an appreciable degree of lost motion, slippage and y 3 non-positive drive of the rtwo shafts l and-,2, the l one by and with theother, and this is under conz trol of the centrifugal governing and the manuall ly manipulable and mechanically operable means. i

The illustrated adaptation is but one Ypractical Hence, the

Having thus described the invention, what I 1 claim is:

1. A fluid transmission clutch device, comprising a closed, hollow, cylindrical, main bodyfshell l having plain-faced head walls at its opposite ends, a closed, hollow, fluid reserve supply .casing attached cooperatively endwise to said main body shell coaxially therewith and outside one of the 3 head walls of the shell, a shaft secured at its end portion to the outerend of said fluid reserve supply casing whereby to rotate by and with the casing and the attached main body shell by rotation of the drive shaft, another shaft having its portion adjacent one end thereof extended axially through said main body shell and journaled rotatably inthe opposite head walls of the shelll an inner cylinder mounted coaxially' and flxedly on said second mentioned shaftv to rotate therewith within said main body shell and being of a length so that its opposite ends terminate in narrow spaced relation to the head walls of the shell, peripherally toothed disc gearsl secured coaxially cylinder and filling the space between'therends secured with leak-tight tting between the .Opposite ends of the cylindricalportion `ofthe main body shell and the peripheral portions of the adjacent head walls of the shell, an intermediate,

open-ended, hollow cylinder disposed with' its cylindrical wall spaced annularly and concentrically between the cylindrical walls of said main body shell and said inner cylinder with its oppo- Vsite end portions ntted rotatably slidable in annular grooves provided therefor in said head walls of the main body shell, said intermediate cylinder having a plurality of annularly spaced lon-. gitudinal openings each of a definite width and cylinders to rotate and travel around said inner cylinder and rotation 0f the inner cylinder likewise .causes rotation of said partition and abutment cylinders about the insideof-said outer shell, thereby moving said Aintermediate Vcylinder rotatively therewith by the` travel of said partition and abutment cylinders on said inner cylinder and .around the inside of said outer sh'ell, but', When the fluid is confined and held-Without escape in themain body shell, said partition and abutment cylinders and said inner cylinder are heldV from independent movement and in a substantially fixed rela-tion tov said main body shell so that rotation of said inner .cylinder` or said main body shell thereby causes, rotation of one of said shafts by lthe other shaft, the head wall of said main body shell next adjacent to said fluid supplyfcasing hav-ing annular series` of port apertures therethrough, a ring valve member secured partially rotative on the Youter face of said apertured head wall ofthe mainv body shell in cover- 'ingrelation to the 'annularseriesV of port apertures in said head wall, said ring valve member having complemental annular ser-ies of port apertures to register with the port apertures of the head wall upon rotative positioning of the ring valve member in one direction but the ring valve member closing said Wall port apertures upon rotative positioning ef the ring valve member in the opposite direction,. centrifugal means for moving saidring valve member automatically to port-closing position by rotative movement o said main body shell, and separate co-active means for selectively moving said ring valve member to port opening and closing positions at the will of an operator.

2. AY fluid transmission clutch device, comprising a closed, hollow, cylindrical, main body shell hav-ing head walls at its oppositeends, a closed,

Vhoilow, fluid reserve supply casing attached cooperatively endwise to said main body shell coaxially-therewithy and outside one ofthe headrwalls of the shell, ashaft secured at Vits end portion to the outer end of said fluid reserve supply casing whereby to rotate by vand with the casing and the attached main body shell, another shaft having its portion adjacentione end thereof Vextended axially through said main,.bodyfshell and journalled rotatably in the opposite' head walls of the shell, Van inner cylinder mounted .coaxiallyand fixedly on said secondmentioned shaft to rotate by and with veach other within said mainv body shell, an'intermediate cylinder mounted freely rotatable Within said main body shell concentrically with relation to said shell and vvsaid inner cylinder and constituting an annular partition Wall between saidv main body shell and said'in-ner 9, cylinder, said intermediate cylinder being provided with a plurality of annularly spaced longitudinal openings of substantial width therein, a plurality of rotatable partition and abutment cylinders disposed rotatably within said longitudinal openings of the intermediate cylinder and being adapted to substantially close said longitudinal openings, said main body shell having an annular spaced plurality of internal radial ribs extending longitudinally thereof, the inner edge portions of said ribs arranged and adapted to ride in wiping contact with the outer peripheral face of said intermediate cylinder, said inner cylinder having a plurality of annularly spaced ribs extending lengthwise of the circumferential face thereof with the outer edge portions of said last named ribs arranged and adapted to ride in wiping contact with the interior cylindrical surface of said intermediate cylinder, said partition and abutment cylinders each having a longitudinally recessed portion to alternately and successively receive said longitudinally ribbed portions of said main body shell and saidA inner cylinder, said main body shell, said partition and abutment cylinders, and said inner cylinder having geared provision between them whereby, upon rotation of said main body shell free of fluid resistance therein, said partition and abutment cylinders are rotated positively by the rotation of said main body shell so as to travel around said inner cylinder and moving said intermediate cylinder rotatively therewith or by rotation of said inner cylinder said partition and abutment cylinders are caused to travel around the inside of said outer shell with the same operative effect of said intermediate cylinder, the head wall of said main body shell between the shell and said iiuid reserve supply casing being provided with annular series of port openings therethrough, a ring valve member secured partially rotative on said head wall within said iiuid reserve supply casing, said ring valve member having annular series of port apertures therethrough so that, in one rotative position of said ring valve member, the port openings thereof register with the port openings of the head wall so as to eliminate fluid resistance within the main body shell to permit the aforesaid rotation of either the main body shell or the said inner cylinder and the free travel of the partition and' abutment cylinders around said inner cylinder or around the inside of said outer shell, but, upon opposite rotative positioning of said ring valve member, the port openings thereof and the port openings of said head wall are closed whereby to confine and hold fluid within said main body shell and upon the occurrence-of which said partition and abutment cylinders, intermediate cylinder and inner cylinder are held from independent movement and in a substantially fixed relation to said main body shell so that rotation of said main body shell or said inner cylinder thereby causes rotation of one of said shafts by and with the other, centrifugal means for moving said ring valve member automatically in the direction to close the port openings in the ring valve member and in the head wall during rotation of the main body shell, and separate coactive means Vfor selectively moving said ring valve member to port opening and closing positions at the will of an operator.

3. A iiuid transmission clutch device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ring valve member is provided with internal rack teeth, and the centrifugal controlling and operating means includes at least one peripherally toothed disc mounted Arotatably on the adjacent portion ofthe head wall in mesh with the rack portion of the ring valve member .and said toothed disc is provided with a Weighted radial arm, the separate coactivemeans for selectively moving said ring valve member being attached cooperatively tothe' iradial weighted arm of said toothed disc of the centrifugal means.

4. A fluid transmission clutch device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ring valve member is provided with internal rack teeth, and the centrifugal controlling and operating means includes a pair of diametrically opposed toothed discs mounted rotatably on the adjacent portion of the head wall and in mesh with the internal rack portion of the ring valve member, the toothed discs having opposed, oppositely directed and normally parallel weighted radial arms, and said separate coactive means for selectively moving said ring valve member including a pair of opposed guidably supported flexible rods, said flexible rods having companion parallel rigid operating rods mounted slidably through the fluidreserve supply casing in parallel relation to the attached shaft and said operating rods being rigidly attached to a shifter element movable longitudinally on said driving shaft but fixed to rotate therewith, and means for moving said shifter element in opposite directions at the will of an operator.

5. A uid transmission clutch device, comprising a closed, hollow, cylindrical, main body shell having head walls at its opposite ends, a closed, hollow, uid reserve supply casing attached cooperatively endwise to said main body shell coaxially therewith and outside one of the head walls of the shell, a shaft secured at its end portion to the outer end o-f said fluid reserve supply casing wherebyto rotate by and with the casing and the attachedA main body shell, another shaft having its portion adjacent one end thereof extended axially through said main body shell and journaled rotatably in the opposite head walls of the shell, an inner cylinder mounted coaxially and xedly o-n said second mentioned shaft to rotate therewith within said main body shell, an intermediate cylinder mounted freely rotatable within said main body shell concentrically with relation to said shell and said inner cylinder and constituting an annular partition wall between said main body shell and said inner cylinder, said intermediate cylinder being provided with a plurality of annularly spaced longitudinal openings of substantial width therein, a plurality of rotatable partition and abutment cylinders disposed rotatably within said longitudinal openings of the intermediate cylinder and in certain rotative positions of the same being adapted to close said longitudinal openings, said main body shell having an annularly spaced plurality of internal radial ribs, the inner edge portions of which ride in wiping contact with the outer peripheral face of said intermediate cylinder, said inner cylinder having a plurality of annularly spaced ribs eX- tending lengthwise of the circumferential face thereof with the outer edge portions of said ribs riding in wiping Contact with the interior cylindrical surface of said intermediate cylinder, said partition and abutment cylinders each having a longitudinally recessed portion to alternately and successively receive said longitudinally ribbed portions of said main body shell and said inner cylinder, said main body shell, said partition and abutment cylinders, and said inner cylinder having geared provision between them whereby, upon rotation of said main body shell or said inner cylf f 12 under f-ree 'of ud resistancethereuponfsaidpaltatecl uwith.V substantially thesame operativeeect "titon and abutmentkeylinders fare frgtated/ posiof said Vintermeoliate -Gy1nder, .there being protvely by the rotation of isaid main Abody Vshell'so vided 4a fluid 4passage between said main body `as to travelaround said inner cyl-indera-nd movshell and said uil :reserve supply casing, and

Iing-retatvely therewithsala;intelgnedateleylini lcontro'llng means for opening and closing said der y 012b5rfr-mtaton ofvsaid'rlnerleyl'nder th'epar- 'fluid passage. lttion and abutment cy-linders are similarly -ro- Y JOEL .L LANDRUM. 

